It is a well known fact that modern homes need circuit breakers to protect against potentially hazardous electrical current overloads, which cause overheating and potentially fires. The primary purpose of a circuit breaker is to stop electrical current flow when the current reaches a hazardous level. There are two main types of circuit breakers in use today – main circuit breakers and individual circuit breakers.
The former is generally the primary circuit breaker for a home or business, with the latter being circuit breakers targeted to specific appliances such as a dryer. Within the last few years, however, a third type of circuit breaker has been made publically available. These new Arc Fault Circuit Breakers serve a different function than their older, standard counterparts.
What do they do?
While a standard circuit breaker, whether main or individual, is designed to cut off the flow of electricity of the current exceeds certain pre-set limits, Arc Fault Circuit Breakers are designed to stop the flow of electricity if the flow is not traveling to its intended destination. This is a lot less complicated than it sounds. In layman’s terms, these circuit breakers stop the flow of electrical current when a wire or cord is damaged and/or in cases of a broken conductor.
Why?
The reason for the invention of these Arc Fault Circuit Breakers is the fact that broken conductors (i.e. severed, frayed or otherwise torn wiring) are the leading cause of fires in American homes. While traditional circuit breakers can go a long way towards preventing electrical fires, they can do nothing to prevent electrical fires that are not caused by an overloaded circuit.
Arc Fault Circuit Breakers are generally only required to be installed in bedrooms; however they can be beneficial when installed in any room of the house. Particularly rooms with numerous cords, such as those from computers, televisions, and lamps. The fact of the matter is that these cords are unsightly and are often routed under rugs or furniture, which is the problem. The cords are often damaged either by heavy furniture, heavy traffic, or even just by something being dropped on them.
Unfortunately, because they are so often hidden, the damage goes unnoticed, and can often create a fire hazard.
If your home is equipped with Arc Fault Circuit Breakers, any damage to a wire that changes the conduction of electricity will trip the breaker. This means that the flow of electricity to broken wires will cease, and the likelihood of fire is diminished.